#39 A. F. Hostetter Cigar Factory in Hanover; Largest Hanover Cigar Manufacturer in 1899
In my post Late 1800s Factory Inspection Reports Assist in Identification of an East Prospect Photo I wrote about finding these reports in the State Library of Pennsylvania. For this series on the Top 50 York County Factories at the end of 19th Century, I’m using data from the 10th Report of the Pennsylvania Department of Factory Inspection.
The 10th Factory Inspection Report is for the Department’s year ending October 31st 1899. I ranked the 479 York County factories by numbers of employees; #50 has 47 employees, on up to #1 with 510 employees. In the coming weeks, on Monday and/or Tuesday, I’m counting down to the top employer in York County at the end of 19th Century.
The trade publication The Tobacco World notes that the A. F. Hostetter Cigar Factory of Hanover, PA was known for High-Grade, Superior-Quality 5-cent cigars; specifically their Stack Favorite brand. If any of my readers know a source of a Stack Favorite image, I’ll use it to replace the 5-cent cigar ghost sign stock photo.
At #39 in the countdown is the A. F. Hostetter Cigar Factory in Hanover. In 1899 it was the largest Hanover cigar manufacturer and the only Hanover cigar factory making the list of the Top 50 York County Factories at the end of 19th Century. Prowell’s 1907 History of York County (Volume I, Page 829) notes:
During the past thirty years, the making of cigars has employed more people than any other industry in Hanover. In 1907, there were about thirty factories within the limits of the borough. Some of the largest factories are conducted by Frank Sneeringer, A. F. Hostetter, David McG. Newcomer, Lewis G. Pfaff, Lewis W. Pfaff, John H. Little, Jesse Frysinger, Harry H. Heusner, Charles E. Althoff, H. H. Trone, T. I. Smith, C. E. Sterner and John E. Hostetter.
The 10th Factory Inspection Report notes that on July 12th 1899 the A. F. Hostetter Cigar Factory in Hanover has 64 employees; 35 male and 29 female. Of these 64 employees, 15 are between 16 and 21-years-old.
In my count down of the 50 top factories in York County at the end of 19th Century, there are 12 cigar related factories represented. Only one cigar factory shows up in the top 15; do any of my readers care to guess where this factory, that made cigars and also cigar boxes, was located in York County—I’ve already had readers guess, Dover, Red Lion & Dallastown; which are not the correct answer in 1899.
#39 A. F. Hostetter Cigar Factory in Hanover, with 64 employees, is the seventh cigar related factory in my count down of the top 50 York County Factories at end of 19th Century. Previous cigar factories that have made the list include:
- #41 William H. Raab Cigar Factory in Dallastown; 59 employees
- #42 Edwin Myers & Co. Cigar Box & Lithographic Works in York; 56 employees
- #43 Paragon Cigar Factory in York; 54 employees
- #46 George W. Gable Cigar Factory in Windsor; 50 employees
- #48 National Cigar Manufacturing Company in West Manchester; 50 employees
- #50 David S. Detwiler Cigar Factory in Wrightsville; 47 employees
